FOCUS ON - phrasal verbs and can, could, will, and would

When the condition is something that is actually possible, the verb in the if clause is normally in the present tense.. If the condition in the if clause is something that could not actu

18 FOCUS ON: phrasal verbs and can, could,

will, and would

Can, could, will, and would are modal auxiliary verbs, often called models Modals are very important in English, but they can be confusing because they are used

to say many different things Here is a basic review of can, could, will, and

would and their most common uses.

Could is used as the past tense of can:

I can't come over tonight

I couldn't come over last night.

Would is used as the past tense of will (the future use of will has already been discussed in Section 15) to talk about something that was future in the past:

/ didn't buy that nice coat for my son because I knew he would quickly grow out of it.

Would is used in place of will when repeating someone else's words:

She said she would get next Friday off.

Would is used as the past tense of will to talk about a repeated past action:

When I worked as a bank guard, I would stand around all day doing nothing.

Normally, can, could, will, and would have different uses, and it is important to use the

correct one; however, in one special case — making requests — they can be used with

very little difference in meaning:

Can you get off the couch?

Could you get off the couch ?

Will you get off the couch?

Would you get off the couch?

Can and could are used, with little difference in meaning, to ask for permission:

Can I think about it before I make a decision?

Could I think about it before I make a decision?

Can, could, will, and would are used in conditional sentences Conditional means that a

condition, usually stated in an if clause, must be satisfied for the main clause to be true

When the condition is something that is actually possible, the verb in the if clause is

normally in the present tense If the condition in the if clause is something that could not

actually be true, the past tense form of the verb is used

When the condition in the if clause is something that is actually possible, can is used in the main clause to discuss a real ability:

If I have a car, I can come over.

133

When the condition in the if clause is something that is actually possible, will is used in the main clause to discuss a real willingness or intention:

If I have a car, I will come over

When the condition in the if clause is not something that is actually possible, could is used

in the main clause to discuss an unreal or imaginary ability:

If I had a car, I could come over.

When the condition in the if clause is not something that is actually possible, would is used in the main clause to discuss an unreal or imaginary willingness or intention:

If I had a car, I would come over.

Either the if clause or main clause can occur first in a sentence, with a slight change in punctuation:

If I had a car, I would come over I would come over if I had a car.

Infinitive

present tense -ing form past tense past participle

breakthrough

breakthrough & breaks through breaking through broke through broken through

1 breakthrough p.v. When you use force to go through a wall or other barrier, you break through it

The thieves broke through the wall of the jewelry store

The attackers couldn't break through the thick walls of the fort.

2 breakthrough p.v When you cannot do something because of a problem and you find a

way to solve or eliminate the problem, you breakthrough

After the problem of tissue rejection is broken through, organ transplants will become more common

It took three days of negotiation, but we finally broke through the deadlock.

breakthrough n An important discovery or development that solves or eliminates a problem

that is preventing you from doing something is a breakthrough

Dr Wood announced an important breakthrough in the search for a cure for AIDS.

figure on

figure on & figures on figuring on figured on figured on

1 figure on p.v. When you figure on something, you expect it or plan for it

/ didn't figure on such cold weather I wish I'd brought a coat

You can figure on spending a least hundred bucks if you're going to that restaurant.

134

Infinitive

past participle

get off

1 get off p.v. When you get off a bus, airplane, or train, you leave it

The bus stopped and I got off

You can't get off the train while it's moving.

2 get off p.v When you are standing, lying, or sitting on something, such as a horse, bicycle, motorcycle,

stage, platform, or piece of furniture, and you step down from it onto the ground, you get off it You're so lazy Why don't you get off the couch and help me? Get off your bicycle

and come inside

3 get off p.v When you are standing within an area of ground, or on something that covers an area of

ground, and you move to the side of it and step off of it, you get off it

The referee told the player to get off the field You're standing on our

beach blanket — get off it!

4 get off p.v. When you get something off, you remove it even though it may be difficult

/ can't get this paint off my hands The top of this bottle is on so tight I

cannot get it off.

5 get off p.v. When you get a certain period of time off, you are allowed by your employer to miss work

during this period

Pregnant women usually get three months off with pay Could I get

tomorrow morning off to go to the doctor?

6 get off p.v. When you get off, or get off work, you finish that day's work and leave your place of

employment

Sally said she wouldn't get off work until 6:00 I haven't gotten off

early all week

7 get off p.v When you do something wrong but are not punished, or you are punished

only lightly for it, you get off Someone who helps you to avoid punishment gets you off

He killed four people, but he got off with only three years in jail If his lawyer

hadn't been so incompetent, he would have gotten him off with a lighter

sentence

8 get off p.v. When you stop talking on the telephone, you get off the telephone

Get off the phone — I need to use it! It's late, we'd better get off the phone

135

go beyond

1 go beyond p.v When people or things are better or worse, or do something in a better or

worse way than is normal or expected, they go beyond what is normal or expected

Did you say Jackson's new book is good? I think it goes beyond good — it's fantastic! Sam's wife discovered that he wasn't just friends with his secretary; their relationship went way beyond friendship.

lift upon

lift up & lifts up lifting up lifted up lifted up

1 lift up p.v. When you lift up something, you use your hands to raise it above the surface that

it was on

That rock is too heavy — I can't lift it up Lift up the cover

and look in the box

line up

line up & lines up lining up lined up lined up

1 line up p.v. When people or things form a row, they line up When you arrange people or things so that they form a row, you line them up

People lined up to buy Superbowl tickets Timmy is lining

his toy cars up.

lined up part.adj. People or things that form a row are lined up

People have been lined up outside the box office for three days The children are

lined up for attendance

2 line up p.v. When something lines up with something else, or when you line up something

with something else, it is positioned correctly in relation to something else

If this bolt doesn't line up with that hole, the lock won't work The holes in part A have to line up with the holes in

part B before you screw them together

3 line up p.v When you arrange for someone or something to be available at a future activity

or event, you line that thing or person up

/ couldn't line a clown up for Susie's birthday party Who have they

lined up for the show?

lined up part.adj Someone or something that you have arranged to be available for a future

activity or event is lined up

Don't worry about the show; everything is lined up.

The singer is lined up, but the band isn't.

136

lineup n. The people or things planned for an event are the lineup

The network has planned quite a lineup of entertainers for the half-time special There's always a

trapeze act in the circus lineup.

Infinitive

stand around

stand around & stands around standing around stood around stood around

1 stand around p.v. When you stand around, you stand in a place wasting time and not doing

anything useful

/ have all this work to do, and you guys just stand around watching me The manager told them

to stop standing around and get to work.

tell apart

tell apart & tells apart telling apart told apart told apart

1 tell apart p.v. When it is possible to see how two similar things are different, you can tell them apart

The twins are identical; no one can tell them apart All the puppies look the same, and I have a

hard time telling them apart.

EXERCISE 18a — Complete the sentences with phrasal verbs from this section Be sure the phrasal verbs are in the correct tense

1 Could you the phone? I want to make an important call

2 Neither side would give an inch There was no way to the stalemate

3 If you put this fake Rolex watch next to a real one, you can them easily

4 Jim wanted to go to a movie tonight, but I told him I wouldn't work until late

5 If the holes don't , the screws won't go in

6 There weren't any chairs at the party, so we just talking

7 I told Frank that his drinking problem isn't just hurting him; it that — it's hurting his family, too

8 The lawyer was sure he could him with only two years in prison

9 When I took this job after I finished high school, I never spending thirty-five years here

137

10 Mother was the last one to the airplane

11 Bob everything in his cabinet so that it's easy to find what he's looking for

12 Lydia told me she would try to three weeks so we can go on vacation

13 There were police barricades around the palace, but some of the protesters _

14 Children, stop jumping on the bed with your dirty shoes right now!

15 Can you the TV while I put the VCR under it?

16 Some CDs come wrapped in plastic that's almost impossible to _

17 I couldn't a magician for the birthday party

18 the carpet I just shampooed it

EXERCISE 18b — Write answers to the questions using phrasal verbs and participle adjectives from this section Be sure the phrasal verbs are in the correct tense

1 Paul said he would remove his cat from the table What did Paul say?

2 I can't see any difference between the original and the copy What can't I do?

3 Erik can't raise the box of books because it's too heavy What can't Erik do?

4 Bill said he hadn't expected snow in May What did Bill say?

5 Nancy arranged for a great band to play at the prom next week What did Nancy do?

6 In Question 5, how would you describe the band?

7 Jerry thought the problem with his car is that it needs a tune-up, but the mechanic said it's worse than that What did the mechanic say?

8 The soldiers smashed a hole in the wall and entered the city What did the soldiers do to the wall?

9 Carlos stops working at 5:00 everyday What does Carlos do at 5:00 everyday?

138

10 You were arrested for drunken driving, but the judge gave you only a warning What did you do?

11 The teacher moved all the desks in his classroom so that they were in straight rows What did the teacher do?

12 In Question 11, how would you describe the desks?

13 She asked me if I would stop talking on the telephone What did she say?

14 I stood at the bus stop for an hour waiting for the bus What did I do for an hour?

15 The personnel manager at my new job said I wouldn't have to work on Sundays What did the personnel manager say?

16 When you put a doorknob on a door, the two sides have to be directly across from each other How do the two sides have to be?

17 Sam stepped from the train What did Sam do?

18 Mark's father told him to move from the grass to the sidewalk What did Mark's father tell Mark?

EXERCISE 18c — Complete these sentences, using your own words, with phrasal verbs from this section or previous sections

1 Last week, he couldn't _

2 When I was younger, I could

EXERCISE 18d, Review — Complete the sentences with these phrasal verbs from previous sections Be sure the phrasal verbs are in the correct tense To check their meanings, review the section number given after each one

get through,16 head for, 15

1 I suggested that we go to Paris, and she really the idea

2 After I it, I decided not to take the job

3 I buying a new computer because I thought they would be on sale in January

4 Do you think this yellow tie this blue shirt?

5 Her uncle promised to pay for her wedding, and he

6 It's very important that you do this work correctly I'm you

7 Timmy broke a window, and his sister him

8 The detective asked me if Jake had robbed the liquor store, and I said I didn't know but that I wouldn't it him

9 Todd said he would to my house after dinner and help me with my

homework

10 The reason Charles is vice-president of the company is that he the boss on every decision

11 Tomorrow I'm going to leave Winnipeg and Toronto

12 I probably won't to Winnipeg for a month or more

13 I didn't get Sally what she wanted for her birthday, and she about it all day

14 You have so much work to do When do you think you'll ?

140

15 I bought these pants for my son a month ago, and he's them already

16 Ned didn't UFOs until he saw one

19 FOCUS ON: phrasal verbs and the adverb right

The adverb right is often used to intensify the meaning of a phrasal verb Placed before the particle, right means directly, immediately, or quickly. It is not important whether the

phrasal verb is intransitive, separable, or nonseparable What does matter is whether the action of the verb is something that can logically be done directly, immediately, or quickly For example, it would be illogical to use right with stand around, or wear down:

She aimed right at me. (She aimed directly at me.)

I'll bring it right over. (I'll bring it over immediately.)

The room warmed right up. (The room warmed up quickly.)

Right can be used when a separable phrasal verb is separated by its object; however,

right cannot be used when the object follows the particle:

He brought my radio right back Ho

brought right back my radio.

Infinitive

present tense -ing form past tense past participle

aim at

aim at & aims at aiming at aimed at aimed at

1 aim at p.v. When you point a weapon at people or things, you aim it at them

The robber aimed the gun right at my head

He was aiming the arrow at the apple, but he missed.

2 aim at p.v. When you aim at something you want, you do what is necessary to get it

The manager said she was aiming at a 14 percent increase in sales next year

The new taw is aimed at reducing crime in the streets.

3 aim at p.v. When you do something designed to affect one class or type of people, you aim it at

those people

Cigarette manufacturers were accused of aiming their advertising at young people

The candidate's speech was aimed at female voters.

141

Infinitive

bring back

1 bring back p.v When you take something to another place and then bring it from that

place to the place where you were before, you bring it back

/ told Tom to bring my pen right back

Sally borrowed my blue sweater and brought it back yesterday.

2 bring back p.v When something that was popular or current in the past is introduced

again, it is brought back

Many schools are bringing back uniforms for children

Every few years designers try to bring miniskirts back.

3 bring back p.v When something causes you to recall memories and emotions from the

past, it brings the memories and emotions back

Looking at these old pictures brought back wonderful memories

I had tried to forget that awful incident, but this magazine article has brought it all back.

bring over

bring over & brings over bringing over brought over brought over

1 bring over p.v When people take something from one place to the place where you are,

they bring it over

/ called Frank to ask if I could use his electric drill, and he brought it right over

Linda is going to bring her wedding pictures over tonight.

cool off

cool off & cools off cooling off cooled off cooled off

1 cool off p.v. When the temperature of a thing or place becomes lower, it cools off

It was really hot yesterday, but it cooled off in the evening

This is too hot — I'll eat it after it cools off.

2 cool off p.v. When people or things cause a thing or place to become cooler, they cool

it off

The coffee was really hot, but he put an ice cube in it and it cooled right off

This bath is too hot Put more cold water in it to cool it off.

3 cool off p.v. When you become less angry or less excited, you cool off

He's furious now, but he'll cool off by morning

Their passion for each other has cooled off.

142

go back

1 go back (to) p.v. When you return to a place where you were before, you go back or go back to that

place

That restaurant was terrible We'll never go back

Dorothy left the Emerald City and went back to Kansas.

2 go back (to) p.v. When a condition, problem, practice, or custom goes back to a

certain time, it began at that time

The tradition of saluting in the military goes back to the Middle Ages

His drug problem goes back to his college years.

3 go back (to) p.v. When you are discussing the age of something, you go back or go back to when it

was created or started

This table is very valuable It goes back to the 1760s

The archeologist found ruins that go back 5,000 years.

hand over

hand over & hands over handing over handed over handed over

1 hand over (to) p.v When you give something to people because they demand it, because they

require it, or because you are not its rightful owner, you hand it over or hand it over to them Turn over is similar to hand over

/ found some money in the street, and I handed it over to the police

That's my calculator — hand it right over!

handover n When you transfer ownership or control of something to someone because that person has demanded it or because you are not its rightful owner, a handover takes place

The Chinese celebrated Britain's handover of Hong Kong The President demanded the immediate

handover of the occupied territory

2 hand over p.v When you give someone responsibility for an important project, duty, or

problem, you hand that project, duty, or problem over or hand it over to someone

Mr Wilson retired and handed control of the company over to his son

The TV news anchor handed the show over to the reporter at the White House.

pull over

pull over & pulls over pulling over pulled over pulled over

1 pull over p.v When you are driving and then move your vehicle to the side of the road, reduce your

speed, and then stop, you pull over or pull your vehicle over

/ pulled over to fix a flat tire We're lost

Let's pull the car over and ask someone for directions.

143

2 pull over p.v When you are driving and a police officer signals you to move your

vehicle to the side of the road, reduce your speed, and stop, the police officer pulls you over or pulls the vehicle over

Jim was driving on the wrong side of the road, and he got pulled over by the state police

When the police officer saw the driver go through a red light, he pulled the car right over.

Infinitive

warm up

1 warm up p.v. When the temperature of a thing or place becomes higher, it warms up It's cold outside I hope it warms up before the picnic

I set the thermostat at eighty degrees, and the house warmed right up.

2 warm up p.v. When people or things cause a thing or place to become warmer, they warm it

up

The fireplace doesn't really warm the house up much

That soup is cold You can warm it up in the microwave.

warmed up part.adj. After a thing or place has become warmer, it is warmed up

Give the baby the bottle with the flowers on it; it's warmed up.

3 warm up p.v When you allow a mechanical device to run for a short time before being used,

you warm it up When a mechanical device runs for a short time before being used, it warms

up

You should always warm your car up for a few minutes before you go anywhere

In the winter I always let my car warm up while I eat breakfast.

warmed up part.adj. After a mechanical device has been allowed to warm up and is ready to be used, it is warmed up

We have to go — is the car warmed up yet?

4 warm up p.v When you do light exercises before playing a sport or exercising with greater

effort, you warm up When performers play musical instruments or sing just before a

performance in order to be ready, they warm up

Before a race most runners warm up with stretching exercises

The singer warmed up in her dressing room before the concert.

warm-up n Light exercises done before playing a sport or exercising with greater effort are called

a warm-up When a performer plays an instrument or sings just before a performance in order

to be ready, this is a warm-up

The runners got to the stadium early so they would have time for a warm-up.

144